Circumferential intramural esophageal dissection successfully treated by endoscopic procedure and metal stent insertion

Spontaneous intramural esophageal dissection is a rare disorder characterized by a lengthy laceration between the mucosal and submucosal layers of the esophageal wall, without perforation. The majority of previously reported cases of spontaneous intramural esophageal dissection were partial, and the circumferential type of intramural esophageal dissection has not been reported previously. Most spontaneous intramural esophageal dissection responds to conservative management, and usually it dose not lapse into a long protracted course of dealing with sequelae. We report an unusual case of circumferential intramural esophageal dissection, in which initial conservative management failed to alleviate the patient's dysphagia, necessitating the use of several endoscopic treatments, including incision of the septum between the false and true lumens, transection of the true esophageal wall, balloon dilatation, and metal stent insertion.